Live from the Hall of Justice!

Starting this week, the Michigan Supreme Court is offering another option for those who want to follow Court hearings: live streaming via the Internet.

Live streaming the Court's hearings "is a natural extension of this Court's commitment to transparency," said Chief Justice Robert P. Young, Jr. "We are using technology to improve public service. If the public can see this Court in action--now from their own PCs and in the convenient settings of home, office, or school --they will be better informed about their government."

The Supreme Court has long made its hearings available outside the Hall of Justice, broadcasting its oral arguments and other proceedings via Michigan Government Television beginning in 1996; MGTV ceased broadcasting in December.

The Court also offers archived video of its hearings on the State Bar of Michigan's "Virtual Court" page at http://michbar.org /courts/virtualcourt.cfm. In addition, the Court holds oral arguments outside Lansing twice a year as part of its "Court Community Connections" program.

Case summaries, prepared by the Court's Office of Public Information, are online with briefs in the cases at http:// courts.mi.gov/Courts/MichiganSupremeCourt/Clerks/Oral-Arguments/Pages/default.aspx.